In 2007, when Kendra Okolita started an online forum for mothers who were photography buffs like her, she was something of a pioneer. Today her Clickin Moms is one of the fastest-growing small businesses in the country.

Angel investor and venture capitalist Jeff Carter started his blog to counter what he saw as misleading info in the press and over the market grapevine. "You can't Google this stuff," says one observer.